Charleston swamped by deadly flooding Sunday while Flash Flood Emergency issued near Myrtle Beach
One person was killed when their vehicle became submerged in floodwater in Mount Pleasant, located just northeast of Charleston, on Sunday afternoon.
Flash Flood Emergency issued for coastal towns in South Carolina
Brandon Copic is live in Georgetown, South Carolina, Sunday where a Flash Flood Emergency was issued due to heavy rain and coastal flooding.
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston saw record rain and historic coastal flooding on Sunday as a powerful storm system working its way up the East Coast combined with the high tide to create flooding issues throughout the South Carolina coast.
Officials urged motorists to stay off roadways on Sunday as flash flooding and coastal flooding swamped Charleston County, including downtown Charleston.
One person was killed when their vehicle became submerged in floodwater in Mount Pleasant, located just northeast of Charleston. Officials say they responded to the car just before 2 p.m., where they found the 72-year-old woman trapped. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Streets flooded in Charleston, South Carolina, during major coastal flooding
Footage from Corey Gerken shows flooded streets in Charleston, South Carolina, during major coastal flooding on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. (Credit: Corey Gerken)
Police closed several roads in downtown Charleston due to the floodwaters inundating streets.
The National Weather Service office in Charleston said the tide in the Charleston Harbor peaked at 9.86 feet (mean lower low water) just before noon local time on Sunday. Not only was that the highest tide on record not associated with a tropical cyclone, but it was topped only by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, an unnamed hurricane in 1940 and Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Both the Charleston International Airport and a recording site in downtown Charleston recorded more than 3 inches of rain on Sunday, breaking previous records for Dec. 17 at those sites.
A Flash Flood Emergency was issued for Georgetown and Pawleys Island, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon as a band of torrential rainfall stalled over the area and produced life-threatening flash flooding. Police from the town of Pawleys Island said heavy rain was inundating the causeway amid strong wind gusts.
Flash Flood Emergency issued for South Carolina coast
Parts of the South Carolina coast was under a Flash Flood Emergency on Sunday as heavy rain continues to inundate the state.
Nearby rain gauges collected 13.30 inches of rainfall in McClellanville, just south of where the Flash Flood Emergency was issued. In Myrtle Beach, just north of the Flash Flood Emergency, 14.80 inches of rainfall was recorded on Sunday.
Sunday's heavy rain and strong winds were part of a powerful storm system working its way up the East Coast.
After slamming Florida on Saturday, the system continues to make its way up the East Coast, prompting Flood Warnings and severe weather alerts.
The system will continue to pack high winds, coastal flooding and severe weather as it continues up the East Coast through Monday.